Liz Dahan qualifies for CD 13 race as Democratic field comes into focus

Image via Liz Dahan campaign.

Liz Dahan, who was the seventh Democrat to enter the race for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, has now qualified for the race.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to represent the people of Florida’s 13th District,” Dahan said.

“My campaign is focused on delivering real results for our community and ensuring that every voice is heard. Together, we will work tirelessly to defeat extreme obstructionist Anna Paulina Luna, who fuels divisive politics that have held us back for too long. I am confident that with the support of Florida’s 13th, we can overcome any obstacle and build a brighter future for all.”

All but two announced candidates have now qualified for the race. Sabrina Bousbar, who would be the first Generation Z woman elected to Congress if successful in her bid, has not yet qualified, but her campaign says she plans to do so before the deadline on Friday at noon. Peter Owen has also not yet qualified, though with limited funds (just over $2,000) raised, it’s not clear whether he will.

Other Democrats who have qualified for the race include former Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority Communications Director Whitney Fox, Mark Weinkrantz, who is running a largely self-funded campaign, John Liccione, and Tony D’Arrigo, who is running as a write-in candidate.

The crowded field of Democrats are vying for the party’s nomination to take on incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Luna, who has also qualified.

Dahan, who is from South Florida, has worked in communications for 20 years, focusing on business, government and foreign policy.

She most recently worked in Washington, D.C., as a partner at Brunswick, a global firm that provides advisory services on a variety of issues including financial, regulatory, political and social. There, Dahan worked with financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies and others to communicate social values and design sustainability and to chart a path toward environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies.

Dahan also previously worked with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the Council on Foreign Relations, the World Bank and with former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

The Democratic Primary will likely be competitive, at least among some of the candidates. Fox has raised more than $400,000 for the race so far, the most by far of any Democratic candidate. But Dahan, Bousbar and Weinkrantz have all surpassed six-figures, too. Weinkrantz lands in second in fundraising, with more than $188,000, including $140,000 in candidate loans, followed by Bousbar with just over $126,000 and Dahan with a little more than $119,000 as of the end of March, though Dahan’s campaign says that number has now reached $220,000.

Whoever emerges from the Primary will have an uphill battle though.

The incumbent has raised nearly $1.3 million and has more than $636,000 still on hand, according to the most recent campaign reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Luna won CD 13 for Republicans in 2022 following redistricting, which shifted the district from a slight Democratic advantage to a GOP-leaning seat. Cook Political Report lists the district as “likely Republican” at R+6.